My Alarm Clock

Most people find digital alarm clocks to be the most reliable.
Personally, I rely on my dad.
My father is a Man Of Routine. His work-day mornings run the same every day (with very few exceptions).
7:00 AM- I wake to the creaking of my parents' bedroom door, and the thump thump thump as he stumbles downstairs (he will only use the downstairs shower because it has good pressure).
Then, the squealing of the plumbing as the shower turns on full blast.
By around 7:10ish (I never really check the clock for exact time...that's the whole point of this post) he has stumped back up the stairs, and I hear him fiddling with the power outlet in the upstairs bathroom, as he is plugging in his electric razor. A few minutes of a buzzing sound, and then a drawer slams, the door opens and he moves back to the bedroom. (There is more to his routine, but it would take too long to detail). By now we are around 7:15 AM.
This is my cue to groggily stumble to the bathroom and perform my own morning routine.
As I said, I rely heavily on my dad to know exactly when to get up.
This morning was one of the few exceptions mentioned above. I was taking my mom's car instead of getting a ride to work with Dad. I didn't take into account that my dad would be getting up later as a result....
Well I woke up in a panic this morning, realizing I was hearing none of the usual sounds! I was COMPLETELY disoriented!!! I scrambled to the little *digital* clock I have at the other side of my room, and to my relief is was only 7:04 AM. A little early. I decided to get up anyway now that my heart-rate had shot way up.
Without my father's timeline to guide me, I ended up running way too early, which is always annoying, especially when I think of how warm and cozy I was in my bed.
Luckily, tomorrow we will be returning to the regular schedule, so I won't have to be so confused again.

Its Booger-Freezing Cold Out There!

The Bus decided to randomly take a different route today, so naturally I panicked and jumped off way up at the top of the hill where I knew for SURE that I wouldn't be carried all the way down town again.
I FROZE.
Its soooo cold out there!
And imagine how stupid I felt when the bus took a quick circle route, and then came back up the hill passing me by on my way down. WAAAAHHHHH. I would've cried but my tears would've froze.

Three Steps To Harmony

I decided to research what the most *peaceful* solution to introducing the two kitties would be . After reading a few articles it seemed to break down into 3 basic steps...
*Have the kitties in separate rooms, swap 'em now and then and let them sniff each others scents without having a face to face confrontation.
*Open the door between the rooms about 1-2 inches; make sure its doorstopped on both sides, and let 'em swat paws at each other without being able to actually beat on one another.
*After a good long time on steps 1 & 2, let them duke it out on their own. They'll figure it out.
Some of you may remember one of the 100 Things About Me is that I hate conflict. The thought of my two kitties fighting isn't a pleasant one. And I'd hate to see my poor Beebs have to defend herself against a much younger, fitter puss.
However...the process has begun. Girlie is enjoying the comforts of the laundry room during the night.

Beebs the Blubberous (and the problems her anti-socialness presents)

A few weeks ago you met Girlie (who, for originality reasons, spells her name "ie" instead of "y", just in case you were curious).
Today you get to meet Beebs.
I'm surprised I haven't blogged about Beebs yet. She is one of the great loves of my life. I think I was 11 when I adopted her from the Humane society- the best $30 I ever spent.
She was about 9 months at that point, and had just had kittens so she looked like a feline greyhound! Very skinny and gaunt (she is now the exact opposite). And one thing I noticed as we picked her up from the place she was staying-- she hated the other cats.
Now, this has never been a really huge problem.Except that recently the temperature here has suddenly dropped, and its snowing like crazy, and poor little Girlie is freezing cold in the garage!!! I KNOW cats have survived out-of-doors for centuries....BUT....I feel so bad seeing skinny little Girlie in the cold, while ol' "tub-of-lard" Beebs who has enough insulation for two cats sits warm and cozy by the fire! It doesn't seem right.
My greatest fears are a cat-fight where Beebs gets beat up (she's not too swift in the self-defense department), and Girlie can't come in the house again, but will want to, now that she'll have experienced the warmth.
What to do?!

Its Been One of Those Fridays...

Well Whaddya Know...

Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant. You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

"Oh No Here Comes Digger! Hide Me!"

Tonight my Dad randomly asked me if I wanted to go to the Blazers game...being the sports fanatic I am, of course I said yes.
Then I asked:
What are the rules of hockey?
Which color are we cheering for?
Haha, ok I'm not that bad, but I'm definitely not as familiar with the game or team as most self-respecting British Columbians are. The last time I went to a game was probably two years ago- and loved it.
There's something so exciting about being in that stadium cheering and groaning in unison with thousands of other people as a little black object is knocked back and forth across the ice. Don't ask me why...it just is!
It was a pretty brutal game to my sheltered eyes. Those guys were being bashed against the sideboards so hard!!! And they all looked so YOUNG. Like...Tim's age. haha...
Anyway, most importantly we whooped the Regina Prats...er, Pats, sorry. 4-0.
I love how I say "we" when all I did was eat a handful of $3.75 spicy fries and sip the French Vanilla that is keeping me up when usually I would be fast asleep by now (Apparently I haven't ditched my low-caffeine tolerance since working at Timmys).

Ok, so I hid from Digger too.
(I have this lingering childhood fear of Large, Mute, Hugging, Mascots)

100 Things About Me

Well here I am jumping on the latest blogging bandwagon. Enjoy.

1. I'm considered short at 5'3”; hobbit jokes have been made.

2. I wear contacts on weekdays, but my glasses on the weekends.

3. I've needed glasses since I was eight.

4. I was considered a cute child until the age of eight.

5. Green is my most absolute favorite color, all shades included.

6. I was home schooled all the way from kindergarten through grade 12.

7. So were my older brothers.

8. My youngest brother is following in our illustrious footsteps.

9. I have three brothers.

10. They all have “Bible Names”(Paul, Michael, Timothy)

11. I do not have a “Bible Name”

12. My mom was going to name me “Emma”, but my Dad didn't like it.

13. I didn't like the name “Emma” when I was younger, but I do now.

14. My Dad is going to have to deal with a granddaughter named “Emma” if she ever comes into existence.

15. I love most cats.

16. I have a cat.

17. Her name is Beebs.

18. My cat Beebs is epileptic, and requires medications that makes her obese.

19. Obese cats make me laugh.

20. Laughing is the love of my life, and its not hard for me to find humor in everyday things and situations.

21. I work at Tim Hortons.

22. There is plenty to laugh at while working at Tim Hortons.

23. There is also a lot there that makes me rageful.

24. I like to blog when I get home from work because its relaxing.

25. I have a blog because I have too much time on my hands, and I find it fun for some strange reason.

26. When I was a kid my room was always spic and span.

27. My room can't stay clean for over 10 minutes these days.

28. I always say I don't have enough clothes, but really I just buy too many that I don't really like enough to wear.

29. I like all music.

30. I don't consider country, rap, or heavy metal, music.

31. One of my favorite bands is Coldplay because you don't need to know the words, the singing is just music in itself.

32. I've played the piano for 10 years.

33. I've taken lessons for 9.

34. I hate playing piano for groups of people, but have done so on numerous occasions.

35. I enjoy playing jazz style pieces the most.

36. I've always wanted to be really good acoustic guitar player.

37. I sing loudly in church because it is loud enough in there that I can't hear myself, let alone have anyone else hear me.

38. I wish I had a nice singing voice.

39. I've always thought that playing voices in animated movies would be the most fun job EVER.

40. I ADORE old animated Disney movies.

41. Robin Hood is my favorite, but 101 Dalmations cuts it close.

42. I know a lot of the words to a lot of the Disney songs.

43. People think I'm really normal when they meet me.

44. After they've known me for a while they don't think I'm so normal.

45. Most people think I'm shy, but really I'm just a quiet person.

46. I HATE bing in the spotlight.

47. I get along best with people who like to do most of the talking.

48. I'm not a hugely social person, but I love just hanging out with close friends.

49. Making superficial friendships is easy for me.

50. Making a close friend is a tad harder.

51. I have trust issues.

52. I hate conflict, and will avoid it at all costs. Or at least most costs.

53. Its hard for me to be mean to someone who I don't like, or who annoys me.

54. This has led to awkward and difficult circumstances in my life.

55. Two people I don't get along with are Slackers and Goody-Two-Shoes.

56. You probably think that is ironic.

57. I've been a counselor-in-training at Camp Homewood for 3 years, but participated in other camps there for 6.

58. Being a CIT for a summer was one of the most fun things I ever did.

59. My first real crush was a kid from Homewood.

60. My crush on him ended at the end of that summer (a few years ago now).

61. He will remain anonymous.

62. That was the last crush I had.

63. Yes, I was heartbroken.

64. Yes, I am joking.

65. I always loved to dress up when I was a kid.

66. I often threw costume parties.

67. I have scrapbooked the pictures from these parties.

68. When people look at those pictures they laugh at me.

69. I still think that I had a lot more fun during my childhood than most kids do.

70. One of the most fulfilling feelings for me is working competently and efficiently with a team.

71. I've never liked working all by myself.

72. I love to read, fiction and non-fiction both.

73. I used to read a lot more.

74. I find it's very hard to find good books.

75. I prefer humorous books.

76. I hate purely romance-oriented novels.

77. Contrary to popular belief, I am not anti-romance.

78. I am anti-sap.

79. Most people who know me think I will be the last of my peers to get married.

80. Most people who know me think I hate boys.

81. I don't hate boys.

82. I think boys are funny.

83. I want to travel to Ireland.

84. I love Irish accents.

85. I love everything Irish.

86. I want to go to Ireland this Spring.

87. I feel silly spending a lot of money on traveling.

88. I'll probably go anyway.

89. I want to go all over the world.

90. I think different cultures are fascinating.

91. Next fall I want to take a course in Psychology.

92. I don't know what kind of career I will have when I am old.

93. I hope its not a lifetime of Tim Hortons.

94. I think sarcasm is hilarious.
    

95. I am a nerd on many levels (Cade knows this better than anyone I think).

96. I have a rebellious streak that likes to make an appearance every few millenia.

97. I can be very stubborn.

98. I can be very determined.

99. But I am often way too laid back.

100. If you want to know another 100 facts about me, you'll have to talk to me.

The All Nighter Experience- Part 5

Pancake Breakfast, 8:00 AM
It seemed we had hardly finished cleaning up after the pizzas and muffins and we began on the pancake breakfast! Busy Morning! We added some leftover blueberries and chocolate chips so make the pancakes extra special :)











Andrew passes out on the home stretch.


Watching Saturday morning Looney Tunes! Boy did that bring back memories!
This is the hole in the wall made during the deadly dodgeball game!!!
Overall, what a great night! We had so much fun!

The All Nighter Experience- Part 4

Muffin Baking!

At around 4:30 AM we started baking our "10 dozen" muffins that are going to be sold as a fund-raiser for the church missionaries. We picked out two (what we thought were fool-proof!) recipes for the kids: Banana Chocolate Chip, and Blueberry. It didn't take long for Kelsey and I to start panicking as the situation went out of control! Kids hyped on sugar and caffeine that early in the morning aren't too concerned with the quality of their projects, we learned...looking back it was really funny! They were wild!

For the most part, their muffins were ok, but one group forgot about a key ingredient: baking powder! We had some banana chocolate chip pound cake on our hands!

Kelsey, Carissa and I took over during round 2, and managed a few batches that actually rose! We ended up with about 6 doz that were sell-able...not bad, not bad....next time we'll be more specific in the recipes!!!

The All Nighter Experience- Part 3

The Midnight Pizza Making Competition!

Earlier this week Kelsey, Carissa, and I went shopping for the all-nighter, and in the process picked up all the ingredients we needed for the pizza-making competition! Ryan the (crazy and endlessly engergetic!) youth leader told us to pick out some really crazy, weird, wild, and gross things for it, so we did!
Among some of the more daring options were hot banana peppers, scrambled eggs, sardines, sweet pickled onions, been sprouts, and cinnamon. And of course a few less original items: feta cheese, green, orange and red peppers, black olives, mushrooms...there was a lot to choose from.


We started with a simple pre-made crust, and they began creating their "Master Sauce".

Finishing touches.

Some very interesting pizzas...

Kelsey reveals the Magnum Opus.

The boys enjoy the fruit of their labour.

Carissa made a few safe and "normal" pizzas for us, so we didn't starve. They were delish!

Ryan eats a sardine! GROSS!

One of those Moments.

Today I stood in the kitchen talking to my mom when the phone rang. I picked it up, and said,
"Hi there welcome to Tim Hortons what can I get for you today."
There was a shocked silence. I looked at my mom, she looked at me (her expression really was priceless).
I realized what I had said, and managed a lame,
"Haha just kidding. Hello?"
The poor person must have been too frightened or confused to answer. There was no one there.
Somewhere in this foggy sleep-deprived mine I am deeply embarrassed. But right now I find it mildly funny.
This all-nighter really screwed me up.

The All Nighter Experience- Part 2

70's Theme Cosmic Bowling!
Who can say no to that?
(well apparently I said no to the bowling part...but ANYWAY...)

Me and Carissa

Kelsey felt so self-conscious!

Josh didn't.

Angela! Funny girl...

Peace out Andrew!

The All-Nighter Experience- Part 1

I helped out with the Youth Group All-Nighter this Friday/Saturday...it was an experience for sure! I've done a few all-nighters in my time, but they're always a struggle with the eyelids! I like my sleep! However we were kept so busy with activities and games and baking that I hardly had any trouble at all! I have plenty of pictures on the way!

Here is my all-nighter schedule:
-so busy doing stuff and running around, it hits 11 PM and I've hardly noticed.
-12 AM comes and goes.
-2 AM....really?!
-Time to grab a cup of coffee at 3 AM
-Things settle down around 4:30 AM
-Eyelids are feeling kind of heavy at 5 AM, while watching a movie.
-7 AM rolls around and I'm squinting at the faint light coming through the windows. Yawns are coming fast and furious.
-Itching for bed at 8 AM
-9 AM we head home.
-11 AM is coming up, I plan to be asleep.
Picture: note the unfocused gaze, the wearing of the glasses (contacts would shrivel my eyes through the wee hours of the morning), Haphazard hair, and bizarre smile. This is definitely me late at night or early morning.

Naked Much?

I've often heard it said that women in general feel naked without their makeup on. I never really beleived it....until today.
I generally don't wear a lot of makeup. A little of the eye stuff, and sometimes lip gloss. Nothing drastic.
I didn't realize how heavily I depended upon that touch of goop for confidence, until the drive to work today.
Through the morning groggy fog, suddenly a stab of panic shot through me.
Oh merciful heavens, I forgot to put my makeup on!
It was the same feeling I would expect if I suddenly realized I wasn't wearing pants. (Not drafty...panicked)
Not a pleasant experience.
However, I convinced myself it wasn't a big deal, and even managed to forget about it during the course of the day, even though every time I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror I cringed at the small beady eyes looking back at me. But now I know that for myself at least it is true that you feel naked without the makeup.

Warning: Wedding Spoilers!!!

Today I had my first-ever wedding-dress shopping experience! Friend Ange is getting married next August, and being one of those females who've anticipated and planned their wedding almost since birth, she has already got the majority of the Big Day organized. This was the day to tackle the dresses, and I tagged along as Official Honest-Opinion-Giver. I also snapped a few pictures :) Above is Ange (center) with her bridesmaids, including her sister, cousin, and two close childhood friends.

She was just in her element trying on all the gorgeous gowns!

They decided on a chocolate brown, bunched-skirt, pink-sashed, strapless dress for the bridesmaids. Miraculously it looked fabulous on every one of them, despite their unique figures!

Ange decided on this dress in the end. She looked so beautiful in it, the picture doesn't do her justice (my camera really let me down today. More than half the pictures are completely useless. I'm going to have to invest in a better one). Sorry that all the pictures are messed up and the text is not in the right places. Blogger has not been kind.

If Jill Ruled the World

1. It would be a pretty scary place.
2. (and more importantly) weekends would be 3 days long.
I"ve decided that I like long weekends.
A lot.
Usually at this time (11:00 PM on Sunday night) I would be depressed, pondering where-the-heck-did-my-weekend-go? Instead, I'm grinning smugly at the prospect of not having to get up early tomorrow, going shopping with some friends (more on that tomorrow, hopefully with pictures!) and being generally pleased about not having to slave away in the land of Tim Hortons. I think its a satisfactory alternative.

Music Moods

I don't remember where I read it, but recently I heard someone mention that when they are feeling angry or sad they will listen to music that will cheer them up. Now that I think of it, it seems obvious but that's never been the way I've done it. Weird?
When I'm angry, I'll listen to angry music.
When I'm sad, I'll listen to sad music.
In a normal mood I listen to soft background music.
In a particularly jolly mood, I listen to Disney soundtracks :P
Am I the only one that listens to music that matches my mood?

A Book for Anyone Who Shrinks from Conflict

Mom had this hanging around the house so I picked it up and began to read, because the title seemed kind of funny, and I enjoyed the book "Boo" by the same author.
This one wasn't the same laugh-out-loud kind of humor, but it sure did have its moments! It wasn't completely obvious at first that the main character was "conflict-challenged" but as you get through it and she somehow winds up at a "Conflict Resolution" class with a couple of wackos, you find out just how spineless she really is. Scary how I related to her at some points... :P
Some of the scenarios were hilarious, sometimes you squirmed with or for her, and other times it was just plain cheesiness, but I would reccomend it to anyone. Most people will get a laugh out of it, and its not a hard read. Try it out!

I'm Not Sure How I Feel About This...

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

A Singular Dilemma

So I'm going to my first official company Christmas Party!
Its up at Sun Peaks and it sounds like a LOT of fun!...
The only thing is, everyone will be bringing their "significant other", and I don't have one! Its not that I have a problem with being single. I just don't want to be alone and feeling really out of it during the night. For anyone who goes to these sorts of social functions, can you enlighten me as to whether it makes a big difference going alone, or should I bring Paul along? :P

I'm Dreaming of a Non-Commercial Christmas

First of all, before you point out that in my previous post I said we should go straight from October to December, I have to state that (even though that would be my preferred calendar) it is not the case. Why then do we start chopping down Christmas trees and dishing out big bucks on Christmas presents as soon as the pumpkins, candy, and zombie make-up are packed away?! The same reason those pumpkins, candy, and zombie make-up start making their appearance at the end of September. I think most people have figured it out- the stores make a lot of $ off of us during the holidays. Its not just presents; its the gingerbread-flavored coffees, the flashing lights, the singing Santas, the mistletoe patterned pajamas....
Honestly, itsn't it a little overkill?
I felt stressed out as soon as I saw the Michaels flyer selling fake Christmas trees on October 31st. It means the madness has already begun, and it feels like its starting even earlier then last year!
Somehow we're supposed to find some cute and personal (but not personal enough that we can't send them to 30 different people) Christmas cards and write a personal note to each recipient, buy presents for family, friends, and aquaintances, decorate the house for the holiday, bake up a storm, find something to wear to the
Christmas party--- and somehow get into the "Holiday Spirit". You know..."Christmas Cheer" and all that.
Don't get me wrong. I don't hate Christmas. I love Christmas. I don't like all the pressure and commercialism.
Why couldn't Christmas be like other holidays, like Easter or Thanksgiving, where the hype starts a week or two before, you enjoy the actual holiday, exchange a few presents, and then, its over. Would that be a bad thing?
I for one would prefer a less-hyped, simpler Christmas. I know I would enjoy it more than the flashy, expensive, commercial holiday that its become.

(ps. is that Rudoph not just the creepiest thing you've ever seen?)

Now I Remember...

...Why I hate November!
It is truly the dreariest month of the year. As far as I'm concerned, we could skip directly from crisp, colorful October, to the Christmas cheer of December. Who needs the bland, depressing gray of November? (Apologies to Amy and others who call November their birthday month.)
Every year I forget what November is like. And every year I am brutally reminded by the cold, cloud, and general crankiness of the human race.
In fact, you might notice that my previous post was written on a very, very bad day, which incidentally was November 1.
Coincidence?
I think not.
I can only hope that this month passes as quickly as the rest of the year has!!

This is sick...

(I've had a bad day so I'm ALLOWED to mooch off someone else's blog today.)

Anyway, check this out, and get a little insight into why its so hard to look like the girls on tv, or in the magazines. (Its actually really interesting. )